Chapter Text
“Small Hot Chocolate please”
Ben thinks it is a bit of a waste coming to McDonalds just for a drink and can’t help but scoff, not too subtly obviously, considering the bloke who just ordered it turns around and glares at him. Ben just shrugs and the guy turns back around and waits for his drink.
The young girl behind the counter places a large cup in front of the guy, clearly not the small he ordered, and winks. Ben can only see the back of his head but by the way his shoulders dip, the bloke seems a little embarrassed.
“Small Hot Chocolate, that’s 99p please Callum” the cashier says brightly, waiting for the guy, Callum apparently, to count his small change. Ben scoffs again but no glare this time, Callum counts out his 5p and 10p coins, taking far too long for Ben’s liking.
Once the coins are handed over, she gives Callum another bright smile and this Callum takes his drink and heads to find a seat.
“Finally!”
The cashier doesn’t appreciate the comment, judging by the look she levels Ben with. Ben thinks she must really want to get into this Callum guy’s pants if she is risking her job giving him freebies. Ben can’t tell if the bloke is worth that, he only got a quick glance when being glared at and his head is covered by a god awful beanie hat that has seen better days so Ben will have to reserve judgement.
“Happy Meal please, with actual fries, not those Carrot things”
Ben ignores the smirk he gets in response, and the young girl goes about putting together his order. Happy Meal in tow, Ben scans for a seat. At first glance none seem available, the West End on the last Friday of the month is always busy but Ben wouldn’t have it any other way. He loves the buzz of the West End and once a month takes a trip to see a show. With everything else in his life going to shit, this is one thing he does for himself, Phil Mitchell be damned.
Eventually Ben spots an empty seat, just his luck, it is opposite Hot Chocolate boy, who is now taking the smallest sips possible from his large drink. Ben sighs again and heads towards the table.
“Do you mind?”
Callum frowns at the unfriendly tone and shakes his head in confusion.
“Your bloody great big bag is in the way. I want to sit down”
Hot Chocolate boy, ‘Callum’ Ben reminds himself, moves the bag out of the way and Ben sits down, ready to ignore his reluctant table companion.
“Bit old for a Happy Meal ain’t ya?” Callums says, not unfriendly like Ben was.
Ben contemplates ignoring him completely but relents. “Not that it’s any of your business, my little girl is collecting the toys, got it for her didn’t I?”
Callum looks around in confusion as if he was expecting a little girl to pop up from nowhere, Ben shakes his head and continues “She’s not here obviously, will take it back for her after the show”
“You a bouncer or something?” Callum frowns and corrects himself “sorry, ‘Doorman’ or whatever they are called at the theatre?”
Ben bristles at that, “no why?”
“You look like a bouncer, sorry doorman or something”
True Ben is wearing his Black Leather Jacket but he is got a fancy shirt on thanks-very-much. “I’m here to see a show, that’s what people do in the West End.” Fixing Callum with his best glare.
“Sorry” Callum replies, not seeming very sorry, and ploughs on “Just you don’t really look like the type you know? The watching musicals type?”
Ben bristles again, who is this complete stranger to judge what type of bloke he is. Ben is about to give him a piece of his mind when Callum interrupts, seeing the obvious displeasure on his face.
“Sorry, didn’t mean anything by it, just that I’ve never seen one really, a musical that is”. Ben relaxes slightly so undeterred Callum starts to ramble “Tried to watch The Sound of Music a few times when I was little, Stu, my brother, heard it was about Nazi’s and stuff and wanted to watch it. Then they all started singing. He turned that off sharpish. My Dad was all ‘not having that guff in this house’ and we never even got to see all the war bits. My grandad was in the war you know? Proper hero, medals and everything”
Ben can’t help be a little charmed by the rambling man but is unwilling to let is show.
Ben takes a bite of his Burger and replies “Drink your Hot Chocolate Callum, it will get cold.”
Alarmed, Callum replies “How do you know my name!”
“Your little girlfriend there” Ben says as he gestures towards the counter “she said it as she swooned over you”
Callum turns red to the tips of his ear’s “Don’t be daft, she was just being friendly”
“I’d say!. Giving you a large when you only paid for a small, reckon you are in there mate”
Ben was teasing but Callum’s reaction was not quite as expected. The friendly openness disappears and he looks down into his drink. Ben didn’t want to speak to this bloke when he joined the table but now the silence feels awkward. He’s only known the bloke 5 minutes, but he thought there wasn’t a silence Callum wouldn’t be able to fill and having him quiet doesn’t feel right.
Ben gives it another minute and with nothing further from Callum begins “So, what’s with the great big rucksack, running away to the circus or something?”
Callum finally looks up at Ben and rolls his eyes, seemingly grateful for the steer away from young suitors and free drinks.
“It’s my Army kit bag, I’m on leave. Just got back and stopped here on the way home”.
Ben looks surprised “Oh yeah? Army man, nice, love a good uniform me!”
Callum looks confused by the comment but brushes it off, shakes his head and continues “I’m staying with Stu, my brother”
“Ah, the musical hater” Ben grins.
A little smile emerges from the corner of Callum’s mouth, as if someone paying attention to him was a rare treat “He has a flat near my Dad in Canning Town, I stay there when on leave”
“You’re bit far from Canning Town, Callum? I’m sure there are plenty of McDonalds nearer to home?”
“Yeah, but I like the West End, all these people dressed up for a night out, it’s a nice atmosphere, I like being around people after being out there you know?”
Ben doesn’t know, not really, but doesn’t feel it is his place to pry. And being here, away from Walford makes Ben feel the same. It is not just the musical itself, it’s the experience, being around decent people out for a good time. Walford is not quite a war zone, well on a good day anyway, but Ben gets the sentiment at least.
Ben looks at his watch, he is going to miss curtain up if he doesn’t get a move-on but he feels a odd reluctance to leave this strange bloke he met in The West End McDonalds of all places. He doesn’t even fancy him, he has the most tragic haircut known to man, pretty much a bowl cut with that damn beanie plonked on top. Ben has the urge to reach out and brush the hair off his forehead, see if there is an attractive bloke under all that but time is not on his side.
Callum can see Ben looking at his watch and figures Ben needs to leave so says “I come here every Friday when on leave, so if you come here a lot, I might bump into you again maybe?” Ben looks surprised so Callum continues “Was nice talking to ya, even though I thought you were a prat when you sat down”
“Charming” Ben replies but with a smile “I only make it to a show once a month, last Friday usually, how long you back for?”
Callum frowns like it is a hard question but eventually answers “Six weeks, extended leave ain’t it”
Ben nods “So Callum, might see you next time then?”
Callum smiles like he is actually pleased. That Ben is someone actually worth talking to. It is not often Ben Mitchell gets such a reaction, so when he gets up to leave and Callum calls after him “Wait! What’s your name?”
Ben smiles to himself before schooling his features and turning around “My name is Ben, just Ben”.